I was wondering today what the best county in the state is right now for track and field.

While I haven't broken down each county yet (I will get to it), the two biggest stories of the year so far have come out of Morris County.

No disrepect to any other counties. I know that Mercer County is stacked with the Rosa twins and Sam Macaluso. Essex has Dave Oster, Tyler Udland, Curtis Richburg, etc. I could go one and one

But Nick Vena of Morristown and Pat Schellberg of Delbarton (he lives in Morristown), have put Morris County on the track map nationally. Everyone around the country knows all about Vena, the top thrower in the country with a 70-10 1/2, and they are starting to catch Schellberg Fever as well. Schellberg's 4:12.43 mile is No. 1 in the nation.

Those two studs will be headlining the Morris County Championships tomorrow (Wednesday) is what should be a barn burner. The meet starts at 4:30 at Drew University.

For those that can't make, have no fear. I will blog live play-play all day and night.

Before I get into predicitons, I want to get somehing off my chest regarding Nick Vena.

I get goose bumbs whenever he steps into the circle because I know everytime he lets one go, it could be a record throw.

One of my favorite stats to keep is Vena's number of 70 plus throws.

The next time he hits 70 will be the 20th time in his career. That's just plain nuts.

Keep in mind that the shot put weights 12 pounds.

To put that into perspective for those that have never thrown or held a shot put, it's like throwing a VCR or DVD player 70 feet. Both of those pices of equipment weight it at roughly 12 pounds.

I am going into my backyard tomorrow and see how far I can throw my old VCR. I am guessing 40 feet, maybe a bit further if I hit my 360 spin just right!

Anyways, I've gone on record already staying that I think Vena will break the indoor national record of 74-11 this season. He has two more months. It's a tough record to get, but I've learned to never bet against this guy.

One more thing about Vena, I am getting a sense from reading different forums and seeing the reaction from people that Vena's performances this year aren't being looked at the same they were his first two years.

When Vena came on the scene as a freshman and took the state and nation by storm, people couldn't sto gushing about everything he did. Then last year, he was still creating quite a stir when he broke 70 feet for the first time and took down the state indoor and outdoor records.

But now I don't see the same huge crowds gathering around the circle, and that's a shame.

When Vena throws 70, it's now met with a collective ho-hum from onlookers. Look, I know Vena spoiled everyone with his immediate impact and now his throws and accomplishments are so expected that I feel Vena's greatness is sometimes taken for granted.

Someone asked me the other day if Vena continued on his current path through his senior year if I would consider him the greatest track and field athlete in NJ history?

That's a great question, and I answered by saying that depends on where he ends up. If he ever broke the national outdoor record, the 81-3 1/2 by Michael Carter (a record many consider the most difficult national record to break), it would be hard to not call Vena the greatest ever.

One thing is certain, at his current rate, Vena will go down as NJ's most dominant track and field athlete of all-time. He's on pace for a state record 11 M of C titles (indoor and outdoors combined including the discus).

Just remember whenever you see him at meet that you are looking at an all-time great in this sport. There will probably never be anyone like Vena in any of our lifetimes, so do yourself a favor and catch every single one of his throws whenever you get the chance.

How often to get to see a chance to see a living legend??

Ok, time for predictions. They are often imitated, never duplicated. Keep in mind that these are the only predictions you can find that actually right. lol.

Remember that none of these picks are meant to disrespect anyone. For anyone that I dodn't pick, I hope you all prove me wrong and p.r. These picks are only made to create some excitement and generate some conservation about the meet.

Here goes.

Team: I see a Morristown-Randolph-Delbarton battle right to finish.

While Randolph and Morristown have more bodies, Delbarton will count on its three big guns to do almost all the scoring. Schellberg, who is expected to run and win the 1,600 and 1,000, and All-Stater Morgan Pearson will handle the distance races, and Gerry Briand is the No. 2 seed in the HJ, and No. 3 seed in the 55 dash.

Pat Schellberg of Delbarton is favored to win two events at the Morris County Championships.Morristown will get 10 from Vena in the shot, and Paul Caravaglia could grab a thrid or fourth in the SP as well.

Hamer Farag will be all over the place for Morristown. Not sure what he'll be running, but figure he will be in the 600, and either the 1,600 or 1,000, and the 4x400.

If the Mo-Town Express wants to take home the title, it will need guys its deep stable of distance runners like Shawn O'Shea, Dan Moritz and Matt Feldman to pick up key points.

Randolph has a pretty balanced team and will county on hurdler/sprinter Steve Vitale, vaulter Ali Hashemi, and distacne ace Collin Frost. But like Morristown, coach Mike Lyons' team, which won the county relays title a few weeks agi, will need some of its lesser known guys to step up to win this. Distance guys Conor Higgins and Sam Knipper, and sprinters Lou Zarro and hurdler Kyle Holder may hold the key to Randolph's success.

So who is the winner? I am going with Mo-Town.

I see Mo Town will get 10 from
Vena, 18 from Farag, anywhere from 4-8 for Caravaglia and 10 from its
4x400. That puts MoTown in the mid 40's.

I can see Mo Town coach Paul
Buccino trying to squeeze a 4th event for Farag, but not sure what the
sked is right now. Farag is also capable of big points in the 300, but
no sure if the sked will allow for him to run all those races. The way
Farag is running right now, I wouldn't put anything past him.

Hamer Farag will try to lead Morristown to the team titleThe key to victory will be Moritz, who
can score in the 300 and 600, and Feldman and O'Shea, who should get 600/1000
points, which would put Morristown somewhere around 60 points.

As for Delbarton,

I can see Schellberg scoring 20 points, Pearson 18, and Briand anywhere from 12-16, and the relay teanm can get fourth for 4 points. I have Delbarton scoring about with between 54-58. That will be tough to top.

Randolph should get about 18 from Vitale (10 in the HH/ 8 in 300), 10 from Hashemi in PV, Frost can get around 14 in his two races. Zarro and Nick Kral should both score in the 300, Joe Fayad may steal a point or two in the shot, and the Randolph 4x400 is seeded 2nd. If everything goes right, Randolph can get to 60.

Steve Vitale, the favorite to win the 55 hurdles, will lead try to help Randolph capture the team title.